The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Sediment issues could back up bridge project
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 11, 2007
When the Washtenaw County Road Commission was awarded $5.5 million through the state's Critical Bridge Fund, Dexter Village officials breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the funds would cover their pending Main Street Bridge replacement project.
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But any glimmer of hope that village officials may have had regarding early initiation of the Main Street Bridge, Mill Pond dam removal and viaduct replacement is fading fast.
One factor that could potentially slow the process is that the village hasn't determined who actually owns the dam, which was built by auto pioneer Henry Ford in the 1800s.
"Nobody has really claimed it and that has yet to be determined," said Roy Townsend, director of engineering for the Wayne County Road Commission.
Proprietorship issues aren't the only factors that could slow the project. Townsend said if the dam's sediment is declared contaminated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, it may thwart any progress in moving forward.
"The village is responsible for the sediment management," Townsend said. "The state hasn't had a lot of dam removals so the MDEQ doesn't really know how to proceed in doing this."
Bridge replacement and dam removal would cost about $1.4 million, according to URS, an engineering firm hired by the Road Commission.
Another factor is that the original $5.5 million is now at $5.25 million after the Road Commission borrowed $250,000 for the Parker Road Bridge replacement which is slated for construction in June.
Townsend said that the $5.25 million funds can't be used toward sediment management.
Village Manager Donna Dettling said Tuesday that the dam will stay if sediment management will be costly.
"But we don't know anything just yet," she said. "We're going to have to wait and see what the MDEQ has found and what our next step is. If this project is going to be something that will bankrupt the village than the dam stays. There's no way we could do it."
With the dam's fate hanging in the balance, Dettling said that the bridge and viaduct projects will be definite.
Townsend said that he hopes that bridge work could start in spring 2008.
"What would complicate things is including the viaduct, which would delay bridge work and push it for 2009," he said.
The bridge's weight limit is 10 tons as it continues to deteriorate.
How about talks of a possible roundabout?
Val Cooper of the Road Commission said that it's just an idea.
"It was a recent suggestion made by village officials at one of the design review meetings," she explained. "It's an option that hasn't been thoroughly explored by URS."
Trustee Paul Cousins said that they have a lot of things to clear up with the Road Commission regarding bridge replacement and dam removal before construction can be initiated.
But village officials are taking the next step in trying to resolve the issue.
President Jim Seta said that he and Cousins would meet with the Road Commission before the scheduled Jan. 17 and 18 meetings.
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